Is Japan’s Okinawa finally moving past anti-base politics?

South China Morning Post - Sep 17, 2026

Okinawa has handed a landslide victory to a conservative who accepts Tokyo’s plans for relocating a controversial US airbase – delivering a blow to 12 years of anti-base politics in Japan’s southernmost prefecture. Genta Koja’s victory on Sunday over two-term governor Denny Tamaki raised a question cutting to the heart of Okinawa’s post-war politics: is it finally starting to move on from the US military base issue? Koja, a 42-year-old conservative backed by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae...

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New metrics reshuffle top 30 university rankings, expose globalization gaps

Sep 18, 2026

New metrics reshuffle top 30 university rankings, expose globalization gaps

The top 30 of The Korea Times University Rankings 2027 remained largely stable — 28 of last year's 30 universities held their places — but beneath that continuity, a revised methodology reshaped individual positions and exposed widening gaps in the quality and depth of internationalization at Korean universities. Seoul-based private universities dominated the top 30, though seven universities outside the capital region also made the cut. They included regional flagship national universities — Pusan, Kyungpook, Jeonbuk and Chungnam — as well as private institutions known for their internationalization efforts, such as Woosong, Handong Global and Yeungnam universities. Yeungnam University and Kookmin University were the only newcomers, climbing three and four spots from 32nd and 34th last year to 29th and 30th, respectively. Yeungnam's rise was driven largely by its strong performance in international research. The private university in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, ranked ninth among the 60 institutions in the research category with 30.95 points, placing first in the shar

Dating in Korea: Gen Z divides exact costs to prevent relationship burdens

Sep 18, 2026

Dating in Korea: Gen Z divides exact costs to prevent relationship burdens

To an older generation that used to argue over the check, each insisting on paying for the group, Gen Z's habit of "1/N" — or splitting a bill and increasingly paying only for what you personally ordered — looks unfamiliar and hard-hearted. For young Koreans, settling the exact amount shows consideration and reason in their own way, as they refuse to leave the table owing anyone anything. It goes further than etiquette. It is an attempt to secure fairness and equity at the very foundation of human relationships. 1/N: Way to protect relationships Participant 6: "For the older generation, if five friends met, one would pay today and someone else would pay next time. Even without settling every time, over the long run, it came to roughly a fifth each. So I think it is why the older generation sees today's split-it-right-now approach as lacking human warmth." Participant 5: "Older people might see it that way, but our generation has always done it like this. If you meet enough times, everyone probably ends up paying about the same, but isn't it much cleaner to just finish it there and th

Seoul's Jongno 3-ga rises to world's coolest neighborhood

Sep 18, 2026

Seoul's Jongno 3-ga rises to world's coolest neighborhood

Seoul’s Jongno 3-ga has gone from cool to coolest, taking the No. 1 spot on Time Out’s list of the world’s coolest neighborhoods in 2026 after ranking third five years ago. The historic downtown neighborhood was praised for its mix of old Seoul and new energy, from late-night food stalls, or "pocha," to independent businesses and traditional Korean houses, or "hanok." Time Out said Jongno 3-ga has only grown cooler since its previous appearance, citing the rise of late-evening outdoor dining, independent businesses and shops. The neighborhood’s appeal increasingly stretches across generations. Today, younger crowds are flocking to the area, drawn by its affordable food and relaxed, open-air atmosphere. "Jongno 3-ga thrives as a social intersection," Time Out wrote, describing a neighborhood where different generations and communities have long crossed paths. Nearby Ikseon-dong has become a magnet for cafes and boutiques tucked into century-old hanok, while Seosulla-gil offers another side of the neighborhood, with craft workshops, jewelry studios and bars. The ranking has put Jongn

Gov't to closely monitor energy price volatility, vows diversification

Sep 18, 2026

Gov't to closely monitor energy price volatility, vows diversification

The finance minister on Friday vowed to make diplomatic efforts and diversify import sources to address recent energy price volatility amid geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol made the remarks during a meeting of economy-related ministers in the central city of Sejong, pointing out that global oil prices have recently risen sharply amid geopolitical tensions. "The government intends to remain vigilant and maintain an emergency response system to stably manage the supply of energy sources and their prices," Koo said during the meeting. Koo added that the energy supply is expected to remain stable for the time being due to the government's proactive diplomatic efforts, diversification of import sources and a strategic swap of oil reserves. "We will operate a monitoring team with the oil refining industry to check the supply of crude oil on a daily basis and take necessary measures promptly," the finance minister said. During the meeting, the government said the country will extend its fuel tax cut scheme by another two months through November to eas

Lee set for press conference amid falling approval ratings

Sep 18, 2026

Lee set for press conference amid falling approval ratings

President Lee Jae Myung was set to hold a press conference Friday to address pending issues in an apparent attempt to resuscitate his approval ratings that have fallen to their lowest level amid controversies surrounding government policies. The press conference, to be held under the slogan of "people's wishes and lives will be more closely heeded," is scheduled to run for 90 minutes from 10:30 a.m. It will mark the seventh press conference by the president since he took office in June 2025 but a rare one, given that most of his previous pressers were held in and around special occasions, such as the first year anniversary of his administration. The event, announced three days earlier, comes after Lee saw his approval ratings decline to the lowest levels in the mid-30 percent range in recent weeks, especially among young voters. During the conference, Lee is expected to face media questions about his and his ruling party's push for a constitutional revision, as well as issues involving his suspended trials. The president and the ruling Democratic Party have been calling for a constitution

Korea to extend fuel tax cut through November amid price burdens

Sep 18, 2026

Korea to extend fuel tax cut through November amid price burdens

Korea will extend its fuel tax cut scheme by another two months through November to ease price burdens on the public amid protracted tensions in the Middle East, the finance ministry said Friday. The Ministry of Finance and Economy said the decision was made during an economy-related ministers' meeting chaired by Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, citing the need to ease the public's burden from fuel costs. Under the measure, the current tax reductions of 15 percent for gasoline and 25 percent for diesel and butane, originally set to expire at the end of this month, will remain in place through the end of November. "We have decided to maintain the current tax cut scheme, considering the country's capacity to address a possible increase in oil price volatility," the finance ministry said in a release. The country has decided to maintain larger tax cuts for diesel, which is essential for industrial and logistics activities, and butane, which is widely used as fuel for small trucks, it added.

Lee says he has 'no intention whatsoever' of seeking reelection

Sep 18, 2026

Lee says he has 'no intention whatsoever' of seeking reelection

President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that he has “no intention whatsoever” of seeking reelection, drawing a clear line between his push for a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve consecutive terms and his own political future. “Under the Constitution, it is impossible for me to seek reelection through a constitutional amendment and I have repeatedly made clear through various channels that I have never even considered seeking reelection,” Lee said during a press conference at Cheong Wa Dae. He dismissed demands that he explicitly pledge not to seek another term as a “political offensive,” saying they were intended to create the impression that he had considered reelection before abandoning the idea. “Nevertheless, I want to make it absolutely clear once again on this occasion,” Lee said. “I have no intention whatsoever of seeking reelection.” Lee has long advocated revising the Constitution to allow presidents to serve consecutive terms, arguing that such a system would ensure greater policy continuity and stability in state affairs. The proposal has d

Lee's approval rating falls to new low of 37%: poll

Sep 18, 2026

Lee's approval rating falls to new low of 37%: poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating dropped to 37 percent, hitting a new low for the fourth consecutive week since he took office in June last year, a poll showed Friday. The survey, conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday through Thursday on 1,002 people aged 18 and older, showed that the positive assessment of Lee's performance fell 1 percentage point from the previous week. His disapproval rating rose 5 percentage points to 56 percent, exceeding his approval rating by 19 percentage points and marking the highest level since his inauguration. Among those who negatively assessed Lee's performance, 20 percent cited his real estate policies, followed by personnel appointments at 16 percent, and economic and livelihood issues at 9 percent. The pollster noted that real estate issues have topped the list of reasons for negative assessments since late July, while personnel appointments came second following the recent Cabinet nominations. Lee's nominations for justice minister and gender equality minister have faced backlash in recent weeks, with both nominees embroiled in controversies o

Top court upholds 4-year prison term for ex-soldier for selling military secrets to China

Sep 18, 2026

Top court upholds 4-year prison term for ex-soldier for selling military secrets to China

The Supreme Court has upheld a lower court's four-year prison sentence for a former Army soldier who was indicted for leaking military secrets, including materials related to joint South Korea-U.S. military exercises, to China, judicial officials said Friday. The top court also confirmed a 20 million-won ($14,500) fine and the forfeiture of 19.07 million won for the former soldier, whose identity was withheld, in a ruling last month, saying there was no error in the lower court's ruling. The defendant allegedly met a Chinese national, whom he had gotten to know through social media, in Beijing in August 2024 while serving as an Army sergeant. The Chinese national, who claimed to be an official from a Chinese intelligence agency, asked him to provide classified military information, and the defendant accepted the request. The defendant then provided military secrets, including materials related to joint South Korea-U.S. exercises, the U.N. Command and South Korean military drills, on seven occasions through February 2025 in exchange for approximately 17.26 million won. Investigators foun

Court to hold arrest warrant hearings for 8 petrochemical executives over alleged price-fixing

Sep 18, 2026

Court to hold arrest warrant hearings for 8 petrochemical executives over alleged price-fixing

A Seoul court was set to hold hearings Friday to decide whether to issue arrest warrants for eight current and former executives of domestic petrochemical companies suspected of fixing prices of products for several years, resulting in massive illicit profits for their companies. The Seoul Central District Court was scheduled to hold the arrest warrant hearings for the eight individuals, including Kim Yoo-shin, CEO of OCI, and Jang Young-soo, former CEO of PKC, accused of violating the fair trade law. The court's decision is expected to be made as early as later in the day. Prosecutors suspect that seven companies — LG Chem, Hanwha Solutions, Aekyung Chemical, OCI, Lotte Fine Chemical, PKC and Unid — colluded for several years to raise prices for eight petrochemical products, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plasticizers, caustic soda and hydrochloric acid. The companies are suspected of making illicit profits totaling several trillions of won by taking advantage of supply disruptions in naphtha caused by the Middle East conflict. PVC, primarily made from naphtha, is a synthetic pl

Lee designates town in southwestern county as special disaster zone

Sep 18, 2026

Lee designates town in southwestern county as special disaster zone

President Lee Jae Myung has designated a town in the southwestern county of Yeonggwang as a special disaster zone eligible for government support after torrential rains battered the region, a presidential spokesperson said Friday. The designation of the town of Baeksu late Thursday came after heavy rains pounded the area from late August to early September, enabling government financial support for post-disaster rebuilding, delayed payment of taxes and discounted utility fees, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said. The government will promptly finalize rebuilding plans to help residents in the affected area return to normal as soon as possible, Kang added.

Cases of treatment, counseling for teen gambling jump over 40% in 2025

Sep 18, 2026

Cases of treatment, counseling for teen gambling jump over 40% in 2025

The number of teenagers who received treatment or counseling for gambling problems surged by more than 40 percent last year, data showed Friday. A total of 5,838 individuals aged 19 and under received counseling or treatment for gambling issues in 2025, marking a 40.9 percent increase from a year earlier, according to the data provided by the National Gambling Control Commission to Rep. Lim Oh-kyeong of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. By category, those who had problems due to illegal online gambling accounted for the largest share at 57.7 percent, the data showed. A total of 24,474 teenagers were classified as a high-risk group last year, but only 1,235 of them were referred to the Korea Problem Gambling Agency, a state agency that provides prevention, counseling and rehabilitation services for people with gambling problems, the lawmaker said, citing the data. "We must comprehensively overhaul the performance management system of our prevention policies to ensure protection for teenagers," said Lim.

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